Case for lipstick or similar article



J. FOUlNAT CASE FOR LIPSTICK OR SIMILAR ARTICLE Aug. 30, 1938.

Filed Oct. 9, 1935 IIIIIIIIIIIIII Patented Aug. 30, 1938 2,128,515 CASE FOR LIPSTICK on SIMILAR ARTICLE Jacques Fouinat, -Paris, France, assignor to Guerlain Inc., New York, N. Y.

Application October 9, 1935, Serial No. 44,137 In France October 18, 1934 14 Claims.

The invention relates to cases adapted to enclose a lip-stick or any other similar article capable of sliding through an open end of this case and of being pushed out of the case or pushed into the case by the manipulation of a knob sliding within a longitudinal slot of the case.

The object of the present invention is to provide the'orifice of such a case with a closure device which automatically opens or closes when. the sliding knob is moved in one direction or the other, and the construction of which is extremely simple and convenient.

This device comprises two similar or symmetrical members in the shape of long frames the vertical sides of said frames loosely abutting two inner faces of the case. The small bottom lateral walls of the frames are adapted tomove betweenthe bottom of the case and abutments secured to the case at some distance from its bottom. The small upper end walls of the frames are shaped so as to close the opening of the case "when the frames are in their lower position. v

The adjacent edges of these two frames are projecting portions for taking up the thrust of the stem of the operating knob, which slides within a slot provided in a wall of the case.

' Moreover, the opposed edges of these frames are provided, at their upper parts, withportions also in the shape of cams and adapted to cooperate with the edges of the opening of the case.

Owing to this arrangement, both frames are actuated by the operating knob during the first portion of its upward stroke, so that their upper ends are first released from the case, then sufficiently spaced apart for allowing the passage of thelip-stick which is also actuated by the knob; the abutments provided in the case then stop the longitudinal movement of both frames, whilst the lip-stick continues to be actuatedup wardly. When the lip-stick is subsequently moved into the case, the operating knob again acts -ori'the closure frames during the last portion of its stroke, so as to compel them to move towards each other and to entirely enter the case. This movement causes the frames to be moved laterally towards each other by means of the sliding movement of the upper portions of the frames against the edges of the opening of th case- An embodiment of the subject-matter of the invention; in which both closure frames are not 55: connected-to each other by any pivot pin and vided, at their lower parts, with laterally pro-' they are independent from each other, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

, Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the closed case, partially in elevation.

Figs. 2 and '3 areviews similar to Fig. l, corresponding to two different positions of the lipstick.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section partially in elevation, corresponding to Fig. 3 and made at right angles to the plane of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a-perspective View of one of the halves of the closure device.

I designates .a case having a rectangular cross section, provided with a longitudinal slot 2 in one of its longitudinal walls and enclosing the lipstick 3, the base of which is insertedin a rectangular socket 4, which is slid longitudinally relative to the case by meansof a knob 5, the stem of which passes throughslot 2. and is riveted to this socket 4.

According to the invention, the case is combined with a closure device composed of twosimilar members 6, each having the shape of a frame thelength of which is nearly equal to that of the case. K, The longitudinal members 6a of this frame messy abutagainst the inner faces la, lb of the case. The bottom lateral walls lib of said membersfihave lugs 60 adapted toabut eachother (Figs. 2 and 3)'. Said ends or webs 6b have edges 6d adapted to, engage with fixed abutments '1 when the device is lifted (Fig. 2) these abutments are constituted, for instance, by the inwardly bent ends of a yoke la which is welded or otherwise secured to the bottom of the case.

The upper end wallsBe of the frame are fiat and each end-wall 6e has a width equal to about one half of the corresponding dimension of the opening of the case (Fig. 1), sothat they close 40 this opening when they are placed against each other within said opening. The members 60. are laterally bent or shaped at their upper end-parts, so that, when their outer edges 6] abut the inner surfaces of the walls lc of the case, and theend wall 6e above thesewalls lc, there is alateral space between end-wall'slie which is suiiicient to allow the lip-stick 3 :to pass between said end-walls Be; the upper portions air of these edges 61" are in the shape of cams or inclines in order to compel the frames tomove towards each other when they are lowered towards the bottom of the case. The edges ab slide on the edges of the opening of the case. i 1 v On the other hand, the inner edges 6g of the longitudinal members 6a are provided, near their lower end-parts, with portions in the shape of cams cde such that, when the frames are close to each other (Fig. l), a space having a closed contour is provided between them, through which space passes the stem of knob '5, the parts ed being located underneath this stem and the inclined portions de being located above the same;

the remainder of the edges 69 extend in a straight 'line of up to the tops of the frames, so

that "when the tops of the frames are spaced apart and their edges 6) bear against the walls ic (Fig. 3), these straight portions cf are par allel to the slot 2 of the case and allow the stem of the knob to freely pass between them.

For preventing the long sides of the frames from abutting each other when they pass from their spaced apart position to their closely adjacent position, each of them can be provided with lugs 6h and 61c, adapted to always remain juxtaposed and to more or less overlap, these lugs being respectively located underneath and above the total path of the knob so as not to stop it during its displacement.

In these conditions, both frames are not symmetrically placed opposite each other, but they are displaced relatively to each other to an extent equal to the thickness of said lugs (Fig. 4)

The drawing allows the operation to be clearly understood: When the knob 5 is lowered to the end of its stroke (Fig. 1), it bears upon the portions cd of the edges 6g and holds the frames lowered with their upper end-walls 6e juxtaposed in the opening of the case, which is thus closed.

When knob 5 is caused to slide upwardly in order to move the end of the lip-stick out of the case, the stem of the knob engages with the inclined portions de and, as the frames cannot freely move apart in this position, they are first moved longitudinally, so that their upper ends are moved out of the case (Fig. 2). The frames now move apart under the thrust of the stem of knob 5, and this spacing apart is automatic as soon as their edges 6d are stopped by the abutments i. As soon as the frames are sufficiently spaced apart, (Fig. 3), the stem of the knob slides between them within the slot 2, and it is thus possible to bring the socket 4 up to the opening of the case.

On the other hand, when the lip-stick 3 is drawn into the case, the stem of knob 5 moves down freely until it engages with the portions cd of the frames; it actuates the frames .downwardly and as their portions ab then slide against the edges of the opening of the case, the frames are compelled to move towards each other and their walls 66 again enter the opening of the case (Fig. 1).

It is to be noted that, when the opening of the case is closed by the end-walls 66 of the frames, the slot 2 is at the same time closed by the long longitudinal member 6a of one of the frames.

In the example illustrated, the frames are absolutely similar to each other and interchangeable, so that the manufacture is simplified as much as possible. It is however possible, without departing thereby from the scope of the invention, to modify the shape of these frames, to replace the lugs 6h, 6k by any equivalent guide means, to use abutmentsintegral with the case instead of being secured thereon as illustrated, and, finally, to make any other unessential constructional modifications.

I claim:

1. A holder of the type described, comprising a case, a movable cup member therein, means connected to said member and extending toward the outside of said case, for the operation of said member byhand, an obturating device, comprising two frames, having each a covering top porl'tion, to close the orifice of said case and means forming a part with said frames and operatively connected with said operating means to first lift and to thereafter shift said frames and their top portions in lateral directions, whereby the orifice of said case is opened and the article held in said cup member is exposed and permitted to be moved outwardly by said operating means.

2. A holder of the type described, comprising a case, a movable cup member therein, means connected to said member and extending toward the outside of said case, for the operation of said member by hand, an obturating device, comprising two frames, having each a covering top portion, to close the orifice of said case and means forming a part with said frames and operatively connected with said operating means to lift said frames, and means to stop the lifting operation of said frames, whereby said frames and their top portions are shifted in opposing directions relative to each other by the continued movement of said operating means, thus opening the orifice of said case, exposing the article held in said cup member and permitting the article to be moved outwardly.

3. A holder of the type described, comprising a full-walled case, quadrangular in cross section, a movable cup member therein and guided by the walls of said case, means connected to said member and extending toward the outside through one of the side walls of said case, for the operation of said member by hand, an obturating device, comprising two frames, having each a covering top portion, to close the orifice of said case and means forming a part with each frame and operatively connected with said operating means to lift said frames, and means to stop the lifting operation of said frames, whereby said L frames and their top portions are shifted in opposing directions relative to each other by the continued movement of said operating means, thus opening the orifice of said case, exposing the article held in said cup member and permitting the article to be moved outwardly.

4. A case for a lip-stick or the like, said case having an opening at an end thereof and also having a longitudinal wall which is provided with a longitudinal slot, a cup member mounted slidably in said case, said cup member having an operating stem which passes through said longitudinal slot, said cup member being shaped to hold one end of the lip-stick or the like, abutments projecting laterally from the inner wall of the case at a distance from the bottom of the case, two frame-like elements locate-d within said case and adapted to slide longitudinally relative to said case and also adapted to rock relative to said case, said frame-like elements having longitudinal portions thereof located between the walls of the case and said cup member, said frame-like element having lateral walls at the bottom portion thereof which are located loosely between the bottom of the case and said abutments, said frame-like element having upper ends which are shaped to close the openings of the case when said elements are fully lowered, the inner edges of said longitudinal portions being shaped to cooperate with said operating stem of the cup -member, so that said stem-and said elements members having-outer end-portions which are move in, unison when. said stem is in the lowest part of its path of movement, said elements having stop means adapted to cooperate with said abutments so as to stop the longitudinal movement of said elements in unison with the stem and to cause the further upward movement of said stem to rock said elements away from. each other, said inner edges of said longitudinal portions being sufficiently separated by said rocking movement to perm-it the free movement of the stem in the upward direction,. the outeredges of said longitudinal portions having, inclined portions adapted to slide against the edge-wall of the opening of the case, so as to cause the rocking movement ofv said elements towards each other when said inclined portions are moved downwardly. I

5. In combination, a case which is open at an end thereof, the wall of said case having a longitudinal slot, an article-holding member movably located within said-case, said article-holding member having a stem connected thereto and projecting through said slot for longitudinal movement in said slot, closure means for the opening of the case, said closure means comprising a plurality of members located within said case and movable longitudinally relative to said case and also rockable relative to said case, said members being shaped so as to abut said stem when said stem is in the lower part of its path of movement, whereby the outward movement of said stem when said stem is in the said lower part of its path of movement, will cause said members to move outwardly and longitudinally relative to said case, said case having stopmeans operative to limit the outward longitudinal movement of said members relative to said case after the outer ends of said members have i been moved out of said case, said members being shaped so that said stem is then longitudinally movable between the adjacent edges of said members, the members of said closure means being rigid and having each at-their exposed extremity an inflexible closure element.

6. In combination, a case which is open at an end thereof, said case having a plurality of closure members which are located within said case and which are laterally turnable relative to each other, said case having means adapted to permit a limited longitudinal movement of said closure members relative to said case, said closure mem bers having outer end-portions which are shaped to close the end of said case when said closure members are in a predetermined longitudinal position relative to said case, said closure members being sufiiciently turnable relative to: each other so that their outer end portions can move away from each other so as to uncover the open end of the case in another predetermined longitudinal position of said closure members relative to said case, and an article-support located within said case and longitudinally movable relative to the case and having operating means connected thereto and exposed at the exterior of the case .said closure members being rigid and having each at their exposed extremity an inflexible closure element.

7. In combination, a case which is open at an end thereof, said case having a plurality of closure members which are located within said case and which are laterally turnable relative to each other, said case having means adapted to permit a limited longitudinal movement of said closure members relative to said case, said closure shaped to close the. end of said case when said closure members are in a predetermined longitudinal position relative to said case, said closure members being sufficiently turnable relative to each other so that their outer end portions can move away from each other so as to uncover the open end of the case in another predetermined longitudinal position of said closure members relative to said case, and an article-supportl0- cate'd within said case and longitudinally movable relative to the case and having operating means connected thereto and exposed at the exterior of the case, said closure members being wholly nested within the case when they are in their closing position said closure members being rigid and having each at their exposed extremity an inflexible closure element.

8. A holder for lipsticks or the like comprising a casing having several longitudinal walls, amovable article-holding member slidable directlyon less than the total number of inner wall surfaces of said casing, means to move said member from without said casing, and closure means, movable longitudinally relative to said casing for the opening of said casing and operatively associated with said moving means, said closure means comprising a plurality of frame members adapted to overlap each other, one each being slidable on and guided by an inner wall surface of said casing distinct from the wall surfaces contacted by said article-holding member.

9. A holder for lipsticks or the like comprising a casing having several longitudinal walls, a movable article-holding member slidable directly on less than the total number of inner wall surfaces of said casing, means to move said member from without said casing, and closure means, movable longitudinally relative to said casing for the opening of said casing and operatively associated with said moving means, said closure means. comprising a plurality of frame members having each at their exposed extremity an inflexible closure element for closing the opening of said casing.

10. A holder for lipsticks or the like comprising a casing having several longitudinal walls, a movable article-holding member slidable directly on less than the total number of inner wall surfaces of said casing, means to move said member from Without said casing, and closure means, movable longitudinally relative to said casing for the opening of said casing and operatively associated with said moving means, said closure means being slidable on and guided by inner wallsurfaces of said casing which are distinct from those contacted by said article-holding member, said closure means comprising a plurality of frame members having each at their exposed extremity an inflexible closure element for closing the opening of said casing.

11. A holder of the character described comprising a casing, a movable article-holding member slidable in said casing, means to move said member from without said casing and closure means, movable longitudinally relative tosaid casing for opening said casing and being operatively associated with said moving means, said closure means comprising frame members adapted to cross each other while closing the opening of said casing and to be substantially parallel to each other while the article of said holding member protrudes from said casing.

12. A holder of the character described comprising a casing, a movable article-holding member slidable in said casing, means to move said member from without said casing and closure means, movable longitudinally relative to said casing for opening said casing and being operatively associated with said moving means, said closure means comprising frame members adapted to cross each other while closing the opening of said casing and to be substantially parallel to each other while the article of said holding member protrudes from said casing, said frame members having each at the exposed extremity an inflexible closure element adapted for location within said casing.

13. A holder of the character described comprising a casing having several longitudinal walls, a movable article-holding member slidable on less than the total number of inner wall surfaces of said casing, means to move said member from without said casing and closure means movable longitudinally relative to said casing for opening said casing and being operatively associated with said moving means, said closure means comp-rising frame members adapted to cross each other while closing the opening of said casing and to be substantially parallel to each other while the article of saidholding member protrudes from said casing.

14. A holder of the character described comprising a casing having several longitudinal walls, a movable article-holding member slidable on less than the total number of inner wall surfaces of said casing, means to move said member from without said casing and closure means movable longitudinally relative to said casing for opening said casing and being operatively associated with said moving means, said closure means being slidable and guided by inner wall surfaces of said casing which are distinct from those contacted by said article-holding member, said closure means comprising frame members adapted to cross each other while closing the opening of said casing and to be substantially parallel to each other while the article of said holding member protrudes from said casing.

JACQUES FOUINAT. 

